Eastside Rail Corridor (BNSF)

Issues & StatusRelevant to ST2

13 May 2010ST Board Capital Committee

Purpose of Today’s Briefing

• Review past studies

• Review corridor status

• Discuss ST2 capital contribution implementation process

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Eastside BNSF Corridor

• 34-mile line from Coulon Park in Renton to City of Snohomish plus 7-mile spur line from Woodinville to Redmond– Segment south of

Coulon Park to downtown Renton retained by BNSF

• Port of Seattle purchased corridor from BNSF in 2009

Recent Corridor Studies• Sound Transit/PSRC Passenger Rail Feasibility

Study (2008) directed by state legislature– Findings: feasible and could be a meaningful

component of the regional transportation system

• PSRC BNSF Corridor Preservation Study (2007)– Findings: corridor should be preserved,

segments should be rail-banked, passenger rail a medium-term use, support for trail

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Port Ownership of Corridor

• Port acquired corridor from BNSF in 2009– Retaining ownership of Snohomish County

segment, granted easement and license to GNP

• Port is negotiating with partners to assume ownership of various rights, and to reimburse the Port’s acquisition costs

Sound Transit King County

City of Redmond PSE

Cascade Water Alliance

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ST interests in the CorridorST2 related:

– Use of a segment in downtown Bellevue for East Link (ST2)

– Public transportation easement over King Co. segments

– Potential use for commuter rail service, as described in ST2

Long-Range Plan related:– Protection/preservation of ERC to allow

eventual high capacity transit --- possibly in a future ST plan/phase

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ST2 Plan• $50M set aside for capital contribution to passenger rail

partnership– If Board concurs that passenger rail provides a significant

benefit to the district– Capital, limited to design or purchase of equipment and

real estate, not operations– For a partnership for long-term passenger rail

• Partner(s) would implement and operate• Funding expires if no partnership by 31 December

2011• When ST2 Plan was approved, there were no plans

about ST being an owner of the corridor

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Implementation Approach

• Issue RFP – Solicit partnership for passenger rail on the

Eastside BNSF Corridor

• Determine whether there is a viable partner for passenger rail

• Provide information to public and partners considering other uses

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RFP Timeline (Conceptual)• Board guidance to staff: May 2010• Release of RFP: Late Summer 2010• Proposals received: January 2011• Evaluation complete, Decision whether to enter into

negotiations: March 2011

• Negotiations complete: July 2011*• Board approval/disapproval of potential contract: August

2011*• Expiration of funding (if no contract): 31 Dec 2011

* Only if Board decides to pursue a negotiated partnership9

Implementation Approach (cont’d)

• Coordinate with King County regarding their regional public outreach process for a trail

• ST RFP process will inform the King County process

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Next steps• Board guidance to proceed with RFP• Technical assistance from consultant for RFP• Request for proposals

– ST objectives and evaluation criteria– Enter negotiations if viable partnership is realized

• Board action on proposal prior to Dec 31, 2011– Proposal must meet ST2 requirements, ensuring that:

• Ridership forecasts, financing plan, capital and operating cost estimates and operating plan are reasonable

• Service will provide substantial benefits to the regional transportation system

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Questions?